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Overview
"Honey Don't" is a song written by Carl Perkins, originally released on January 1, 1956 as the B-side of the "Blue Suede Shoes" single, Sun 234. Both songs became rockabilly classics. Bill Dahl of Allmusic praised the song saying, "'Honey Don't' actually outclasses its more celebrated platter-mate in some ways." It has been covered by more than 20 other artists, including the Beatles, Ronnie Hawkins and Johnny Rivers. [Wikipedia]
Background
Honey Don't is a song by The Beatles, written by Carl Perkins and led on vocal by Ringo Starr. Originally John's onstage; given to Ringo for the LP. Within the catalogue, its cover thread connects it to Anna (Go to Him), Chains, Boys; its carl-perkins thread connects it to Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby, Matchbox; its ringo-vocal thread connects it to Boys, I Wanna Be Your Man, Act Naturally. Originally part of Beatles' onstage repertoire with John as lead vocalist, this Carl Perkins cover was reassigned to Ringo for Beatles for Sale (26 October 1964). The strategic vocal reallocation—common during this era—permitted Ringo vocal features while reserving Lennon voice for original compositions. This vocal delegation strategy enabled ensemble development (Lewisohn 1988, p. 55). A Carl Perkins tune paired with Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby, the song provides a showcase for Ringo Starr's vocal abilities and instrumental contributions, following the band's tradition of giving each member solo spotlight opportunities (Kozinn 1995, p.109).
What's distinctive
One of 11 songs led primarily by Ringo. A non-original — one of 23 cover versions in the canon. Recorded approximately 67 of 67 into the Beatlemania (1962–1964) sessions. Carries the rare tag 'carl-perkins' — shared with only 2 other song(s). Take count: 19 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "Well, how come you say you will when you won't…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Beatlemania (1962–1964) period, recorded 26 Oct 1964 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced; Norman Smith engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.51 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). Ringo's vocal delivery and rockabilly rhythm required straightforward arrangement—minimal overdubbing, emphasis on rhythmic groove. The session captured the master efficiently, prioritizing Starr's percussive clarity and vocal presence. The guitarist-centric arrangement highlighted Ringo's rhythmic sensibility (Lewisohn 1988, p. 55).
The song selection represented a deliberate recording choice despite initial disagreement regarding its suitability as a Beatles track, contrasting with their early recording approach (MacDonald 1994, p.64).
| Studio | EMI Studios, Abbey Road — predominantly Studio Two |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Twin-track BTR-2 (1962); Studer J37 four-track from late-1963 |
| Console | REDD.37 / REDD.51 valve consoles |
| Microphones | Neumann U47, U48; AKG D19 (drums); STC 4038 (overheads) |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124 compressor (Altec 436B mod), EMT 140 plate reverb, STEED tape echo |
| Guitars | Rickenbacker 325 (Lennon), Gretsch Country Gent / Tennessean (Harrison), Höfner 500/1 violin bass (McCartney), Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl kit (Starr) |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC30 (TB & non-Top-Boost variants) |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Norman Smith • Richard Langham, Geoff Emerick (2nd) |
| Estimated takes | 19 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP Beatles for Sale. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. At 2:14 duration (31st percentile), this rockabilly Ringo vehicle ranks 91st in Lewisohn coverage—reflecting Starr's secondary vocal status. The cover choice underscores Beatles' commitment to drummer-vocalist tradition established on Please Please Me. The track's secondary status emphasizes ensemble vocal diversity (Lewisohn 1988, p. 55). Basic recording and master tape were both completed on 18 October 1964, with mono mixing occurring on 21 October 1964 for the Beatles for Sale album.
Mono & stereo
- Mixed primarily in mono at Abbey Road; the Beatles attended only the mono mixes through Sgt Pepper.
- Stereo mixes from this period were prepared (often without the band present) and are now considered secondary by purists.
Documented alternate versions
No documented alternate versions.
Released on
- Beatles for Sale — LP, 4 December 1964
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (cover, carl-perkins, ringo-vocal)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
covercarl-perkinsringo-vocal
References & external databases
Notable covers
- Johnzo West recorded the song for the 2014 Perfect Sisters movie soundtrack.
- Ronnie Hawkins on Mr. Dynamo album, 1960.
- Billy "Crash" Craddock covered the song on his 1986 album Crash Craddock .
- Johnny Rivers covered the song on his album Memphis Sun Recordings, released in 1991.
- Gene Summers performed "Honey Don't", during a live concert, that was filmed and broadcast by Warner Amex Television in 1983.
Cover-version mentions extracted from the Wikipedia article. For comprehensive cover catalogs see SecondHandSongs.
Frequently asked
Who wrote Honey Don't?
“Honey Don't” was written by Carl Perkins.
Who sings lead on Honey Don't?
The lead vocal on “Honey Don't” is by Ringo Starr.
When was Honey Don't recorded?
“Honey Don't” was recorded 26 Oct 1964 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did Honey Don't require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 19 numbered takes for “Honey Don't”.